sutta

Sutta (Pali: sutta; Sanskrit: sūtra) is a genre of Buddhist scripture consisting of discourses, sermons, or dialogues attributed to the Buddha and his close disciples. The term literally means “thread” or “discourse.” In Theravada Buddhism, suttas form the core of the Sutta Pitaka, one of the three baskets of the Tipitaka. The Sutta Pitaka contains five collections known as nikayas: the Digha Nikaya (long discourses), the Majjhima Nikaya (middle-length), the Samyutta Nikaya (connected discourses), the Anguttara Nikaya (numerical discourses), and the Khuddaka Nikaya (the “minor” collection) which itself includes popular works such as the Dhammapada, Udana, Itivuttaka, and Sutta Nipata.

In Mahayana and other Buddhist traditions, the term sutra is used more broadly for canonical scriptures, largely in Sanskrit. These sutras often present elaborate philosophies, cosmologies, and practices, and they include famous works such as the Prajnaparamita sutras, the Lotus Sutra, the Avatamsaka (Flower Garland) Sutra, and the Diamond Sutra. In Tibetan Buddhism, many sutras are transmitted in translation and paired with tantras.

Authorship and dating vary. Some suttas are considered to preserve the exact words of the Buddha, while others are later compilations or redactions by followers. The various canons differ between traditions; the Theravada Tipitaka emphasizes the Sutta Pitaka as core scripture, while East Asian and Tibetan canons incorporate large numbers of additional sutras.

Suttas are used for teaching, practice guidance, and philosophical inquiry. They are studied for ethical instruction, meditation techniques, and insight into Buddhist concepts such as suffering, impermanence, and dependent origination.